Dental articulator



(No Model'.) 7 v I W. F. SLACK & G. A. SMITH.

DENTAL ARTIOULATOR. No. 400,713. Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIE F. SLACK AND GEORGE A. SMITH, F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,713, dated April 2, 1889. Application filed January 11, 1889. Serial No. 296,066. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIE F. SLACK and GEORGE A. SMITH, both of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDental Articulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide for the use of dentists an articulator, whereby the movements of the human jaws may be accurately imitated, so that artificial teeth can be properly fitied and adjusted.

The invention consists in the several implements inthe construction of dental articulators, which we will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings-forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved articulator. Fig. 2 represents a top View of the same. Fig. 3 represents a Side view.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 61. represents the support ing-frame of our improved articulator, the same having the arms 2 2 formed in one piece with each other and with the feet 3 3. To the lower portion of the frame a is affixed an arm,

, upper ends of the arms 2 2 are affixed rods 88.

1; represents the upper frame, composed of a bar, g, on which-is formed an arm, 10, having ears provided'with holes 5 5, to receive pins or dowels 7 7, said pins being intended to support the plaster mold 0, relating to the upper j aw. The bar g has trunnions t ton its ends, which are fitted in sockets or bearings 21. a, formed on collars u it, having longitudinal apertures 41 v, through which the rods 8 8 extend, the.collars 11. being adapted to Slide upon the said rods. The orifices o are enough wider than the diameter of the rods 8 to enable either end of the bar g to swing back independently,'and'thus permit the arms and the mold supporting them to swing horizontally,while the connection of the bar 9 with the collars a a by means of the trunnions t and sockets 1:, enables said arm and mold to swing vertically. It will be seen, therefore,

that the two molds may be relatively moved in the same manner as the human jaws, so

that all the movements required to demonquired and readily reapplied thereto; hence the same articulator can be used for several sets of teeth in process of construction at the same time, a corresponding number of pins-'7 being employed. Y

Heretofore, as far as we are aware, no means have been provided for the ready removal and reapplication of molds, each articulator requiring to be kept in connection with one set of molds until the teeth are finished, so that if a dentist has several sets in construction at the same time he must provide himself with as many articulators. The advantage of our improvement, which enables the molds to be readily removed and reapplied, and therefore enablesonearticulator to be used for all the work in hand, will be readily seen.

1' represents a spring attached at one end to the lower portion of the frame at, its upper end bearing against the bar g and holding the same in place with a yielding pressure by keeping the collars u u in contact with the frame-arms 2 2. The extent of the downward movement of the upper mold may be regulated by a screw, 3, which works in a tapped socket in an ear, m, formed on the bar g, and bears on an ear, 01, formed on one of the arms 2 of the frame a.

It will be seen by reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 3 that the upper frame may be held by the spring 2' in a vertical position, so that it will be out of the way when the lower mold or cast is being operated on, the spring holding the upper frame in said position with sufficient firmness to prevent accidental dropping of the upper cast upon the lower.

The arm 4 is secured to the frame a by a screw, s,'which, when loosened, permits said arm and the lower cast to be tilted laterally or vertically.

We claim- 1. In a dental articulator, the supportingrob frame having the holes or sockets 6 6 for the reception of pins or dowels affixed to the lower mold, combined with the pivoted or hinged frame having the holes or sockets 6 6 for the reception of pins or dowels affixed to the upper mold, as set forth.

2. The combination of the lower frame having rods 8 8, the upper frame having sleeves jointed or swiveled to its ends, whereby the upper mold is enabled to rise and fall, said sleeves having orifices fitting loosely on the rods 8 8, whereby the upper mold is enabled to swing laterally, as set forth. v

3. The combination of the lower frame hav ing the rods 8 8, the upper frame having sleeves jointed to its ends, (said sleeves embracing the rods 8 8,) and a spring whereby said sleeves are normally held with a yielding pressure against the lower frame, as set forth.

4. The combination of the lower frame having the rods 8 8, the upper frame having a pivotal connection with the lower frame and provided with an ear, m, having a tapped socket, and an adjustingscrew engaged with said socket and bearing on a portion of the lower frame, whereby the downward movement of the upper mold may be adjusted, as set forth.

5. The improved dental articulator composed of the supporting-frame a, having the rods 8 8 and the detachable pins or dowels 7 7, the upper frame, b, having the sleeves an, jointed or pivoted to its ends, said sleeves be= ing adapted to slide and move laterally on the rods 8 8, the detachable pins or dowels on the upper frame, the controlling-spring 1L, and the adjusting screw or stop 3, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the lower frame, a, the lower east supporting-arm, 4, made in a separate piece from said arm, and a screw, 8, connecting said arm and frame, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 7th day of J anary, A. D. 1889.

WILLIE F. SLACK. GEORGE A. SMITH.

Witnesses GEORGE B. KING, FRANK P. REMICK. 

